Breaking Benjamin don't necessarily regress on their latest effort as much as they refuse to progress. There isn't a moment on this disc that's exciting or worth subsequent listens. Everysinglesong renders the same tiring mechanic of slow agonized vocals to carry the several boring verses leading into often anticlimactic choruses, a formal strong point for the band, resulting in a more than lackluster affair. The days of this band being an acceptable guilty pleasure have surely faded; save for a lenient middle section, Breaking Benjamin have released what may be their worst disc to date. It's like swimming in a bathtub, after the nostalgia of being in water wears off you'll notice that this isn't quite the experience it hyped up to be.
So if you must: What Lies Beneath, Crawl

I really enjoyed this album. I'm probably one of the few that thought there was a step forward here for the band, or at least a non-negative change. The first few tracks strike me as slightly progressive musically, whereas I never got that impression with songs on their previous albums (I'm a fan of Phobia, by the way). A few of the songs aren't anything special, just fairly generic radio/anthem rock, but I still enjoyed the melodies in those songs. He does have a great ear for melody. The album is far from perfect but overall I listen to it on a regular basis now that the songs are stuck in my head. Side note: did anyone else notice that track number four sounds 100% different production-wise? I'm assuming it was mixed somewhere different than the rest of the album (or at least most of the songs on it). It's kind of a downer for me since I'm just getting into the album at this point as I'm listening through it and then all of the sudden it sounds like they threw in a production from a totally different album for one track. Maybe this is just me paying a lot of attention to production, something I've developed a big habit for recently.

Breaking Benjamin has never been genre pushing, ground breaking or anything we hadn't heard before. That all being said their albums have kept up with a consistent level of listen-ability and quality. They have yet to change from their style whatsoever. However they still make another album of the same style of rock as we've grown to expect from them. So if your into them, then this album should leave you pretty happy.

i say that This Album was actually really nice. i was looking around to find out how many songs there were for the new album just in case i missed a song when i saw this.
i am interested in what other people have to say about different types of music and different singers/bands so i joined. I started listening to Breaking Benjamin only a year ago and i only just started finding their better songs. i really love the songs they make and i dont mind the fact that they haven't changed much (even though i really thing that Dear Agony is a bit different. Note: take my username seriously. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MUSIC) i dont mind cuz i'm affraid if they change their ways they'll make it worse and what-not. I loved their album but i am kinda hoping for more of the types of songs like Topless, Dance with the Devil, The Diary of Jane, and so cold. those are a couple of my favorites.

In my opinion this album is solid and shows some differences from what they have done before, Particularly the growls which should be used far more. I understand why some reviewers may say this is their worst disc to date but for me they are still a decent band to listen to.
Highlights: Crawl, What Lies Beneath, Lights out, Without You, Give Me a Sign

Basically a carbon copy of their previous album "Phobia". Breaking Benjamin's latest effort won't change your mind on the band, in fact, for the most part, the instrumentation is slow, boring and unimpressive. The vocals are as always strong and the lyricism has taken a step up from the last album, but that alone won't make up for the awkwardly lagging pace of this album.

It is an alternative album, plain and simple. As an alternative album is is good, nothing special. Musically it is about the same as everyone of their other albums. The songs on a whole aren't great, but it is a more consistent album then their previous works.

i found this album to be quite monotonous and drowzy. i liked their older stuff like polyamorous but now this new album (with the exception of maybe two songs) is like a slow song borefest. i hate when bands lighten up to the degree that it makes you sleepy listening to them.

Breaking Benjamin aren't necessarily bad at making music. Many of their songs really are a joy to hear on occassion, however the album "Dear Agony" in general is really quite bland.

I'm sure there are occassions or instances in people's lives where this album will cheer them up, but really all of the themes lyrically involve lead singer Benjamin Burnley calling out to a mysterious "someone" (which we will assume female).

This whole album comes across as Alternative Metal with real Emo sprinkles.

Do you know how much variety Phobia had? This is pretty much like that, only with the variety taken down a notch. The biggest thing that bugged me about this album is the recycled use of lyrics from the other albums... just little lines like "you take my breath away" that pretty much sound like they ripped it directly from the song Breath on Phobia. Other than that though, it's a relatively solid, catchy album.
Good for Breaking Benjamin fans, probably nothing that'll get you into them if you've already heard their stuff though.